European Union Bans Incandescent Light Bulbs
EU energy ministers meeting last week in Luxembourg have given final approval to an EU-wide ban on incandescent light bulbs that would begin in 2010. The switch to energy-saving bulbs, first ordered at last year’s Brussels summit as part of an aggressive energy policy to fight climate change, was approved at the negotiations leading up to a meeting of European heads of state, being held next week.
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Traditional incandescent cost around 1/3 as much as standard compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). But the CFLs last longer and use less energy while illuminated. Incandescent filament light bulbs use up to five times as much energy as standard CFLs.
Advocates claim that replacing the worst-performing lamps with today’s best available technology will reduce domestic energy consumption for lighting by 60 percent; equivalent to preventing 30 million tons of CO2 pollution every year. The move would help EU member states meet their proposed emissions reductions of 20% by 2020, targets that may currently be in question because of the lingering economic crisis.
Not everyone is enthusiastic about switch the CFL technology. Opponents to the measure argue that the fluorescent bulbs take a long time to warm up and sometimes have a tendency to flicker. The bulbs are also too big for some (very) old-fashioned fittings and are generally more expensive – although the EU has vowed costs will come down before 2010. CFLs also carry the added baggage of potential health risks and environmental problems because of the mercury found in each bulb.
However, all of the arguments used against compact fluorescents cannot be levied against LED technology. Light emitting diodes, are said to be brighter, safer, and longer lasting than even the best CFL technology. However, until the cost of LEDs comes down, a large-scale switchover to that technology remains several years away. But with directives like this latest one from the EU, it is quite likely that the price of LEDs will come down as businesses ramp-up development and production.
The new light bulb scheme will initially apply to bulbs of 75 watts and higher and the phasing out of the traditional bulbs will come into effect beginning March 1, 2009.
Image credit: laszlo-photo via flickr under a Creative Commons License
A perfect ban need to be verified, if implemented. Normally when a product reaches a major modification and becomes popular, the design and manufacturing machines are scrapped out and reaches the poorer countries. Ex: Non flat TV products, became popular and cheaper when advanced countries went for only flat TVs. So EU should form the rules such that the scraps should not move out of EU, which will be a perfect ban
Cars emit more heat than incandescent lamps. Hence a serious look into the total technology change for Electrical cars would be the need of the hour
EU can lead the world for this!
Will the ban apply only to domestic fittings in the home or would it affect businesses like theatres who would typically be using 500w tungsten bulbs or larger?
This is typical of a government ignorant of real energy issues. My Fiat Punto can consume around 50Kw when I put my foot down. i.e. 500 x 100 watts. That means in one second the car uses as much energy as a 100w bulb in 5 minutes. Reducing the allowed power in car engines would make a huge difference but instead the humble light bulb which is not one of the main energy issues takes the rap. Of course most people don’t understand the physics so governments use this crap to look green when in reality they are not. Also the problem is that these fluorescent and LED bulbs do not have a proper white spectrum and so distort colours this is very important when doing any artwork.
Sadly this is the age of ignorance where everybody has a right to have an opinion and decisions are taken by the vote. Sadly a democratic decision is only better if the majority bother to study the subject. Otherwise the result is desaster.
Into the valley of death rode the ….
Has anyone even mentioned that CFLs cannont be dimmed! I am a stage Lighting Designer in Canada and I would never use any flourescant bulb in any theatre (or my home)! the color temp is “ugly” and no dimming control is just dumb! I have always hated CFLs, and I hope that no such law gets passed in Canada!
[...] UK charities and vision experts are calling into question the European Union decision to phase out traditional incandescent light bulbs in favour of Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). [...]
I will be stocking up on incandescent bulbs before the ban in the US; maybe a thousand of them. I do use CFLs but also use incandescents. How well will the CFLs work on exterior light fixtures when the temperature is -15F? When I use incandescents in the winter they simply augment our natural gas fired heating system. Our heating systems runs five to six months a year even in our super insulated house.
What about the low wattage 15 watts incandecent used for decorations for feasts,in christmas etc.,no other bulb replaces the normal incandecent ones,they are low priced and only used once a year?
[...] years longer and uses about 75 percent less energy than the incandescent bulb. From one article (Red, Green & Blue blog), I note that the 60% reduction in energy consumption would translate into a reduction of 30 [...]